Congratulations to the members of the DGN Chamber Choir, and Dr. Frank Piekarz, for their very musical and professional performance of the Canadian and United States national anthems.
Both anthems were performed with exquisite musicianship. However, after the game, choir members speculated that their performance of the Canadian athem was just a little "too good," as it inspired the Blue Jays to a 14-0 win over our Chicago White Sox. "I think the Jays are likely to take a recording of our version on the road with them the rest of the season," said Dr. Piekarz on the bus ride home.
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The North High Fine Arts Department is proud to announce that the 2008-09 DGN Chamber Choir has been honored with an invitation to perform the national anthems of the United States of America, and Canada, at U.S. Cellular Field. The Choir will perform both anthems just prior to the first pitch of the Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays this coming Friday, April 24th.
Catch all the game action on Comcast Sports Net-plus television, or on MLB.com.
Congratulations to Dr. Piekarz, Mrs. O'Riordan, and the students of the North High School Choirs for this honor.
The Inaugural Woodridge/District 99 Art Show opened on April 15 with a reception and awards ceremony held at the Woodridge Public Library. A special congratulations to all of the visual artists from North and South High School for their meaningful contributions to our artistic community!
New York saxophonist Russ Nolan is on campus this week to work with DGN student musicians and perform on Tuesday night's "Sharing Is Caring" Jazz Concert. The concert, which begins at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium, will feature DGN Percussion Ensembles, the Jazz Lab Band, and the Jazz Ensemble. Admission is free.
The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual "Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship". Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove gives a scholarship to a deserving high school senior who lives in the District 99 attendance area. Charles Dickerman was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove. He was a nuclear engineer at Argonne National Laboratory who had an undergraduate degree in music. Charles stayed involved in music throughout his life and was an avid bagpiper.
This post-secondary scholarship is a $2,000 award. The scholarship will once again be offered through Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Benet Academy, Marmion Academy, Timothy Christian High School, Marquette Manor Baptist Academy, Montini High School and Nazereth Academy. The application can be downloaded here.
The emphasis for this scholarship is music. Candidates are required to have participated in curricular music activities in high school and/or extracurricular music activities. Composers and/or arrangers qualify for this scholarship. Pursuit of an undergraduate music major or minor is not required.
Criteria for the Music Scholarship
All applicants must have their forms postmarked by March 31st of this current calendar year in order to be considered. Please send forms to the following mailing address:
Rotary Club of Downers Grove Attn: Music Scholarship P.O. Box 256 Downers Grove, IL 60515
Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 7, 2009.
Thirty-four events from Downers Grove North High School received a Division I rating of SUPERIOR. A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.” In addition, thirty-six events from Downers Grove North High School received a Division II rating of OUTSTANDING. A Division II score is categorized as “An excellent performance – only minor defects.”
“Preparing for a Solo and Ensemble contest is a great opportunity for our students to express their individualism as soloists and to develop team-work skills with small ensembles,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High. “We’re very proud of all our students who entered the state contest this year. They did a terrific job representing North High with their musicianship.”
Two North High events received “Best of Day” Awards. Clarinet soloist John O’Hara, as well as ensemble members Marie Kirkegaard (clarinet), Kirsten Keller (flute) and Kevin Gupana (oboe) were recognized by judges to be the most outstanding performers of the day in their performance venues.
The following North High Music Events received a “Division I—Superior” rating.
Solos
• Erick Burkiewicz (Marimba) • Chloe Burnham (Violin) • Tom Cannan (Vocal) • Carrah Demos (Vocal) • Faith Enenbach (Violin) • Kevin Gupana (Oboe) • Michelle Hsu (Marimba) • Faisal Khurshid (Snare Drum) • Lauren Kovanko (Viola) • Andrew Kuikman (Multiple Percussion) • Kristen Lemke (Vocal) • Colin Ludlow (Vocal) • Meghan Lyda (Cello) • John O’Hara (Clarinet) * Best of Day Award • Jon Parthun (Marimba) • Madeline Poortinga (Violin) • Rudy Rendek (Violin) • Nick Rudy (Cello) • Emma Sassano (Marimba) • Hannah Shatzer (Oboe) • Caroline Sterr (Vocal) • Isaac Stevenson (Marimba) • Isaac Stevenson (Snare Drum) • James Tandaric (Violin) • Mike Walser (Alto Saxophone) • Hannah Young (Harp) • Ayden Zarkhah (Violin)
Ensembles
• Clarinet Ensemble: Kurt Meyer, John O’Hara • Keyboard Percussion Ensemble: Emma Sassano, Jordan Depeder, Derek Mitchell, Rachel Greenwood • Membrane Percussion Ensemble: Faisal Khurshid, PJ O’Hara • Mixed Wind Ensemble: Marie Kirkegaard, Kirsten Keller, Kevin Gupana * Best of Day Award • String Ensemble: Meghan Lyda, Lauren Kovanko • String Ensemble: Meghan Lyda, Hannah Young • String Ensemble: Madeline Poortinga, Kelsey Draeger
Congratulations to the students and faculty of the North and South High School choral programs for wonderful performances at the 2009 Vocal Honors Recital.
Congratulations to the North High Winter Guard for their outstanding performance this weekend at the Team Dance Illinois State Competition. The team traveled to Peoria and placed 4th in the Varsity Lyrical Flag category, scoring over 90 points. This is the highest score our team has ever received at the state competition. Congratulations to all the members of the team (below), and coach Emily Rivera, for a tremendous season and this outstanding accomplishment.
Congratulations to the 255 music students from the DGN Band, DGN Choir, and D99 Orchestra who recently completed a very successful music tour to Florida.
Click here to see performance videos and images from the tour.
Student artists from Downers Grove North High School received regional visual art recognition through The 2009 Scholastic Art Awards.In all, North High visual artists garnered 98 awards in the juried exhibition.
Now in its 86th year, the Scholastic Art Awards is a national competition devoted to recognizing outstanding art and writing created by middle school and high school students.
The competition begins with regional adjudications across the country. Our 2009 regional show, sponsored by District 99, received 1251 entries from 18 local high schools, as well as entries from 2 middle schools competing in a separate age category.
The 1251 high school entries were vying for 629 awards:
21 combined Art & Photography Portfolio Gold Key awards
144 Gold Key awards for individual works
242 Silver Key awards
243 Honorable Mention awards
5 American Vision Awards for Best in Show
All award winners had their work on display at Downers GroveNorthHigh School. At the close of the show, all individual Gold Key and Gold Key Portfolio winners have their work shipped to New York City for the national adjudication. Last year, 77,000 students submitted approximately 100,000 works for regional review. Over 10,000 Gold Key recipients moved on to the national judging, where more than 1200 received awards. This year has seen a record number of submissions that will increase this total once the final tally has been taken.
Downers GroveNorthHigh School was honored with another outstanding performance at this year’s regional show.
36 Honorable Mention commendations.
36 Silver Key honors
25 Gold Key awards
1 American Vision award
The following list are the DGN winners by category and award:
American Vision Award (Five pieces are selected as the Best in Show) -- Kathryn Butler Computer Art
Gold Art Portfolios: Ben Campo, Kathryn Butler, Stephanie Koblich, Colleen Malec, Dave Schmitt
The Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble visited North High today to present a series of music clinics which culminated in an evening concert that featured New York trumpet legend Lew Soloff.
Congratulations to the members of the North High Jazz Lab Band, South High Jazz Lab Band, North High Jazz Ensemble, and South High Jazz Ensemble for wonderful performances tonight.
The Doane College Band, under the direction of Dr. Jay Gilbert, visited District 99 last week to share their music. Pictured here, the band performs with the North High Wind Ensemble in a 6th Period Exchange Concert.
North High School 'All-State Musicians are heading to Peoria, IL to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival this week. Congratulations, and good luck!
Members of the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands took their show on the road this past weekend, participating in the 19th Annual Purdue University Jazz Festival. The Purdue festival, which draws outstanding high school jazz programs from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, began on Friday, January 16 with a concert featuring the Mingus Big Band and continued all day Saturday, January 17 with hundreds of student musicians performing for panels of internationally recognized jazz musicians.
Each of the three jazz ensembles from DGN, the Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Lab Band, and the Jazz Combo, received Division I recognition in their respective classes. Additionally, the following students were recognized with Outstanding Soloist and Musicianship awards:
Mr. Scott Ney, Professor of Percussion at the University of New Mexico presented a series of percussion master classes and private lessons on Thursday, January 8th. Thank you Prof. Ney for being with us, and sharing your passion for music!
The 2009 Jazz Cafe, with special guest Mr. Tony Kidonakis, featured the Jefferson Junior High, Herrick Middle, and Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands. A large crowd packed the DGN Student Cafe, on a snowy Friday night, for a great evening of music.
The "Jazz Cafes" are an annual January series hosted by District 99, and consist of one concert at North High School, and one concert at South High School. Working collaboratively, the Fine Arts Departments at both schools work toward a philanthropic goal by selecting a charity for in-kind donations. The 2009 charity is Potters for Peace (www.pottersforpeace.org). With a mission to bring clean drinking water to impoverished children, Potters for Peace teaches communities in South America the fabrication of a low-cost ceramic water purification system. As a part of this year's Jazz Cafe, visual art students from District 99 donated ceramic bowls for a silent auction which generated hundreds of dollars for the cause.
Students and faculty have been working tirelessly to prepare for the 2008 Holiday Mosaic, the 12th annual combination of music and visual art during the holidays.
Concerts are tonight at 5:30 and 8:00 PM. Our Art Show reception is Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM.
Members of the North High Concert Singers treated many to beautiful sounds of the holidays at the 2008 "Breakfast with Santa," hosted by Good Samaritan Hospital. Thank you to our singers for getting up early on a cold & snowy December morning to bring joy to the hearts of many young children.
Fifteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School have been tapped by the Illinois Music Educator’s Association for All-State recognition.Auditions were held last October.
“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.“Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level.”
In total, twenty-six student musicians were selected for All-State from Community High School District 99.
The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 28-31, 2009.Their concerts will be held at the PeoriaCivicCenter on the evening of January 30, and the afternoon of January 31, 2009.
International recording artist and North High alumnus, Muriel Anderson, performed for students today in a series of three school assemblies. Ms. Anderson will perform in her annual Thanksgiving Homecoming Concert this coming Saturday, November 29, in the Johnson Auditorium.
Congratulations to the North High Bands for two terrific concerts this week. The Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Percussion Ensemble all performed this week for appreciative audiences.
Thank you to our North High Music Boosters, led by Cheesecake Sale Coordinators Tana Williams and Andria Barry, for their incredible work! An army of dedicated volunteers sorted through 1,298 cheesecakes this past Saturday, and in doing so wrapped up a sale that brought in over $6,400 in profits for our music students who are raising funds for a February 2009 tour. The students and staff of North High are very appreciative!
Congratulations to the members of the Trojan Marching Band for their fine performances and steadfast support of the North High Football Team during the 2008 IHSA State Playoffs.
North's loss to conference rival Glenbard West in the Quarter-Finals marked the end of the season for the team and the band. "We Love Our Team!" ... and have been proud to support our players this season.
Music teacher Tony Kidonakis (Downers Grove District 58) works with the North High Jazz Ensemble on November 13th. Mr. Kidonakis will return to North High for the annual Jazz Cafe concert (Friday, January 9) as the featured artists and soloist.
Congratulations to the dozens of students, faculty and staff involved in the 2008-09 North High All-School Musical: Into The Woods. Directed by Mr. Pappageorge and Mrs. O'Riordan, this year's production was a success on a multitude of levels.
Ron Modell, legendary Professor of Music (retired) from Northern Illinois University, spent time on Thursday, October 23, visiting music classes at both Downers Grove North and South High Schools. He listened to the bands at both schools and offered musical feedback for students and faculty.
Professor Modell is known around the world as one of the most successful music educators of all time, having developed the N.I.U. jazz program into an internationally acclaimed band. Prior to his appointment at N.I.U., Mr. Modell played trumpet in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
59 student musicians from Downers GroveNorthHigh School were selected, by competitive audition, to the 2008 Illinois Music Educator’s Association District Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band.Auditions were held on Tuesday, October 14, at CarlSandburgHigh School.The top placing scores were selected for participation in the District Music Festivals, to be held during the month of November.
“To my knowledge, this is the largest number of North High students recognized by the IMEA in our school’s history,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson.“All of our students who auditioned worked very hard and competed against stiff competition.Selection to these ensembles is a real honor for both them, and our school. We are looking forward to hearing great performances at the District Music Festival next month.”
Homecoming '08 was a major success for the North High Bands. Friday was a very busy day for students, including a performance at the Homecoming Assembly, the Parade, and of course the Homecoming Football Game.
Approximately 60 band alumni returned to participate in pre-game, half-time and to perform in the stands with our current students. We had representatives ranging from the Class of '44 all the way to the Class of '08. It was great to have everyone back!
The Trojan miniBand was THRILLED to participate in the Downers Grove Friends of the Library Storybook Parade. The weather forced the parade into the 1st and 2nd floors of the library, but everyone seemed to have a great time. Congratulations to all the young marchers that joined the miniBand in their GREAT costumes. And thanks to Curious George for this photo op!
North High School endeavors to provide an enriching, vibrant, multidisciplinary environment for the study, creation, and presentation of the Fine Arts.
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